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Do you
watch crime shows? Do you think you can solve medical mysteries and
determine cause of death of a patient just like the pros shown on
crime scene shows?

Dr. G,
or Dr. Jan Garavaglia, is the chief medical examiner in one of
Florida's biggest counties. She was the medical examiner on one of
the biggest headlining crime of recent years: the Casey Anthony Case.
Dr. G testified in the trail that she believed little Casey Anthony
was murdered.

She called foul play on the case
because when a two-year-old is found dead in a field in a plastic bag
with duct tape on her face it points to foul play in Dr. G's mind.
Dr. G wasn't necessarily happy with the outcome of the case but by
the time the trial ended she had already moved on to other cases.

Dr. G described her medical education
which includes several years of school above and beyond her medical
degree and involves more investigative medicine and studying causes
of death as well.

Dr. Oz: Real Life Medical Drama
Situation #1

Case #14592: a 45 year-old female
weighing 190 pounds died suddenly in her bed with no prior medical
history. What is the cause of death?

A Dr. Oz fan was asked to join Dr. Oz
and Dr. G on the stage to see if she could solve this medical mystery
file. Her first guess is that death could have been caused by a heart
attack.

Dr. G said the dead woman's weight of
190lbs, and a high Body Mass Index (BMI) is the main clue for this
case. Sudden and unexpected from high blood sugar and insulin
resistance is quite common.

A medical examiner can't conduct a
blood test like doctor can during an office. Dr. G can take a fluid
sample from the patients eye and test for sugar levels and diabetes.
This patient did indeed have diabetes but that doesn't provide a
clear cause of death.

Dr. G then took a look at the liver and
this patient had an enlarged liver a common result of diabetes.

A healthy liver is dark brown in color.
A BMI over 30, however, results in a liver that is pale in color and
fatty. Dr. G explained that 90% of people with a BMI over 30 have
accumulated fat in the liver. That fat goes into liver cells and
expands them, over time those liver cells can die and be replaced by
fat causing cirrhosis of the liver.

We're still not at a cause of death for
this case, but we're close. While the liver may be fatty it may not
necessarily be the cause of death so Dr. G moves on to examine the
lungs. This patient had a large blood clot lodged in her lungs the
size of a normal vein in the leg.

The cause of death was a pulmonary
embolism blood clot to the lungs with a contributing factor of
obesity.

Dr. Oz: Real Life Medical Mystery #2

A 51 year old female weighing 145
pounds with a history of chronic pain and use of pharmaceutical
narcotics and over-the-counter pain relievers. The night before, she
went out drinking with friends. The next day her boyfirend found her
dead in her bed.

The Dr. Oz fan said the boyfriend sound
suspicious and the first thing to do is talk to him. Dr. G agreed
that the boyfriend looks suspicious but an investigator needs facts
from the scene first and foremost.

By the bed was a bottle of ibuprofen,
said Dr. G., in the bathroom medicine cabinet was a variety of
over-the-counter pain medications and a powerful pharmaceutical for
pain. In the sink blood is found and it appears that some cleanup was
attempted.

Examining the body, Dr. G said she
looked for trauma such as bruising on the neck and broken blood
vessels in the eye hinting at strangulation. None of these signs were
found however the eye lids were pale indicating anemia.

Dr. G opened the woman's intestines and
found blood in the bowels. The cause of death was determined to be
internal bleeding and had nothing to do with the boyfriend but
everything to do with the over-the-counter pain medications which led
to erosion of the lining of the stomach and internal bleeding. The
victim had a stomach ulcer which Dr. G believes was attributed to the
over-the-counter NSAID pain relievers.

The longer NSAID's are taken, the
greater risks of developing stomach issues, even with occasional use.
Drinking or smoking can increase risks of damaging stomach tissues.
In general, chronic and high dose usage are the typical causes of
this type of death, explained Dr. G.

Dr. Oz: Real Life Medical Mystery #3

A 39 year old female, height 5'7” and
175 pounds who had not been to a doctor in 15 years had no known med
problems. She carried groceries up a flight of stairs to her
apartment then collapsed. Her sister called 9-1-1 but the woman died
on the scene.

The fan's guess was that the strain of
carrying groceries could have caused a problem maybe high blood
pressure was a factor. Dr. G said the story is a big clue. The woman
died suddenly and unexpectedly and heart issues may have been at
play.

Of the cases of people dieing from
heart disease, 30% of them don't know they have a heart health
concern and they die suddenly. Looking at the heart is the best place
to start in this case.

Dr. Oz showed a normal heart, the size
of a fist. The medical mystery woman's heart was twice the normal
size. The woman's arteries were not clogged but the heart was
enlarged. The most common cause of enlargement would be high blood
pressure. The kidney's can provide more information

Normal kidney's are smooth and this
woman's kidney's were shrunken, a classic sign of high blood
pressure. Dr. G said she sees this cause of death nearly everyday and
many people have no prior symptoms before death.

Dr. Oz: The Truth About Soy

It's in just about everything we eat
these days from milk to bread to hot dogs. Popular opinion seems to
go back and forth from viewing soy as healthy to warning people to
severely limit consumption.

Asian cultures have relied and depended
on soy as a main food for centuries. Many say that soy supports heart
healthy and can be a part of a healthy diet.

Others say that soy can increase risks
of cancer and heart concerns. So what's the truth? Dr. Oz takes on
concerns and questions about soy.

Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, member of the
medical advisory board for The Dr. Oz Show, said yes soy has healthy
isoflavones that are very supportive of health. The controversy over
soy stems from a misunderstanding of plant sourced estrogen. Peanuts
also have lots of plant based estrogen and they provide health
benefits too.

Dr. Oz The Truth About Soy #1: Soy
Will Cause Breast Cancer

Verdict:
Soy does not increase breast cancer risks, in face, soy can play a
role in reducing the risks of breast cancer.

One cup soy milk
daily reduces breast cancer risks by about 30% which has been shown
in many studies. Asian cultures who have regularly eaten soy for
generations and regular soy consumption in general have a lower rate
of breast cancer.

The concern with
soy and cancer is typically for people who have been diagnosed with
cancer and then eat soy. It's not known if those plant estrogens play
a negative or a positive role in the cancer.

Dr. Oz The Truth About Soy #2: Soy
Is Bad For Heart Health

Verdict:
Soy is very beneficial for heart health.

Ms. Kirkpatrick
explained that soy is high in fiber and supports healthy blood
pressure levels. The big question about soy and heart health is its
effects on LDL, or lousy, cholesterol. Ms. Kirkpatrick said a soy
burger is a healthier choice over a beef burger.

Dr. Oz The Truth About Soy #3: Soy
Is Bad For The Thyroid

Verdict:
Soy does not cause hypothyroid concerns.

Women
who have a thyroid condition and are on thyroid medications may need
to limit or cut out soy. It may be that these folks need separate the
taking of their meds and eating soy. It's important to talk to a
doctor about each individual situation and how soy may interact with
doctor recommended therapies.

Dr. Oz: Good Soy vs. Bad Soy

To help sort out
which soy products are good which are maybe not as good, Dr. Oz
created a soy spectrum to illustration.

Dr. Oz: Soy Spectrum - Worst

The worst forms of
soy are isolated soy proteins found in energy bars which also contain
refined flours and sugar. Soy protein isolates are a highly refined
form protein and the worst source of soy.

Soy burgers fit in
between soy protein bars and soy chips. Soy burgers contain lots of
processed ingredients. Ms. Kirkpatrick called soy burgers a ghost of
a heath food as they seem like they are a healthy food but it's
really not.

Soy chips aren't
much better than a potato chip because they contain refined flours
and high amounts of salt.

Dr. Oz: Soy Spectrum - Mid

In the mid range
of the Dr. Oz soy spectrum is tofu and edamame. These are better
sources as they are in their whole form and these are the types of
soy products that Asian cultures eat.

Soy milk falls
between the mid and the best forms of soy. There are many soy milk
options on the market and some are better than others. Look for soy
milk made from fresh whole soy beans. Avoid soy milk products with
added sugars such as brown rice syrup or evaporated cane juice.

Dr. Oz: Soy Spectrum - Best

The best forms of
soy are the fermented forms: tempeh and miso. Both tempeh and miso
support digestion and allow for more nutrients to be digested.

Ms. Kirkpatrick
said eating one to two servings of good soy products a day is
consistent with great health benefits.

Dr. Oz: Holiday Shopping Health
Hazards

Does holiday
shopping give you a migraine? How about aching muscles and sore feet?
While shopping this holiday season avoid the pitfalls and health
hazards to stay healthy and safe this year.

Dr. Oz Holiday Shopping Hazard #1:
Heavy Packages and Bags

How do you carry
all those shopping bags? A Dr. Oz fan invited to the stage gathered
several shopping bags and carried them all in one hand.

If you were given
two barbells how would you carry them? You would hold one in each
hand so the weight is balanced. So why don't we create balance when
juggling those bags of goodies?

Dr. Oz had her
stand against a wall that had horizontal and vertical lines. Dr. Oz
then placed tape on her body, face and shoulders, to give a
perspective of how she carries her self while she carries all those
shopping bags. She gathered the bags again then stood against the
wall. She was leaning severely to one side which can cause strain and
pain in the neck, shoulders, back and the hips too.

To support those
aching muscles, Dr. Oz recommended applying castor oil to the
muscles, then cover the skin with plastic wrap and put a heating pad,
set to low, on top to relieve aches.

Dr. Oz Holiday Shopping Hazard #2:
Standing In Long Lines

After a long day
of shopping you may feel like you ran marathon. Swollen feet and
aching legs could be your present after standing in all those
check-out lines.

Walking naturally
massages the leg veins and encourages circulation however when
standing that circulation doesn't happen and can lead to pooling of
blood in the legs and feet which cause pain and discomfort.

Dr.
Oz says that when standing in line waiting, to stand on one foot and
rotate the other foot in a circle going one direction then the other
direction. Switch feet. Doesn't take any extra space to do this and
it won't make you lose your place in line either.

Dr. Oz: Fans Share Holiday Prep
Tips

There's so much to
do during the holidays so Dr. Oz asked fans to share their short-cuts
and time-saving tip to help make holiday prep go a little easier.

Dr. Oz Holiday Prep Tip #1: Peeling
Potatoes

Dana said she
saves time on peeling potatoes by boiling the tubers then plunging
them into ice water. This process allows for the skin to come off
easily. Dr. Oz said he's been doing this with beets. It's so easy,
everyone should do this, he exclaimed.

Dr. Oz Holiday Prep Tip #2: Cleaning
Short-Cut

Mia shared her
cleaning short-cut for streak-free and lint-free windows and mirrors.
Use a coffee filter instead of a cloth or paper towel.

Dr. Oz Holiday Prep Tip #3: Wrapping
Tips

Susan is a master
at wrapping holiday gifts. The more organized you can get the easier
the process will be. She likes to use a paper towel holder to keep
all her ribbons in one place. A tool belt filled with the necessary
wrapping tools such as scissors, bows, tape, and tags keeps
everything you need in easy reach.

****This post is in progress. Check
back often for updates. I'm typing away!****

Disclaimer and Disclosure

The information contained in blog posts published on WatchingDrOz.com and WatchingDrOz.blogspot.com is not intended to treat, diagnose, or prescribe. At no time is the information intended to replace the direction or therapies of a health care provider. Consult a healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter product, starting a weight loss program or considering a drastic health change. Questions regarding health or the appropriateness of beginning any products recommended in this blog should be directed to a health care provider. Information for published posts is obtain from watching The Dr. Oz Show and summarizing discussions contained in programs aired on a national television in addition to the writer's own personal interjections which are stated as such and supported by research where available. WatchingDrOz.com is not affiliated with or endorsed in any way by Dr. Mehmet or The Dr. Oz Show in any formation, evolution, configuration, arrangement, etc. Products featured in advertisements anywhere on WatchingDrOz.blogspot.com does not imply an endorsement or even a recommendation from Dr. Oz or The Dr. Oz Show. Links on the blog to products for sale are provided as a service to readers. Owners of WatchingDrOz.blogspot.com do receive a commission from products purchased as a result of links on the blog.